The Saddle Creek Series 5-Book Bundle. Shelley Peterson

next time.”

      “I will, I promise.” Abby was contrite, but anxious to go. “I’m off to ride Dancer. See you later.” She kissed her mother on the cheek as she rushed past her and down the stairs.

      Fiona followed her. “Do you want me to drive you over?”

      “No thanks. I’ll take my bike. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

      “Be careful!” Fiona called to Abby’s back as she jumped on her bicycle and started down the lane.

      “I will!”

      Abby thought of Dancer as she made her way along the road to Hogscroft. The gorgeous chestnut stallion had totally captured her imagination. The day before, he’d allowed Abby to make some progress. Today might be quite different. He was a smart horse. Too smart for his own good, the farmers around here said.

      Abby had the sense that she’d forgotten something. Something was missing. She went through the list of things she had to remember. Breeches, boots, gloves, hat, Tipperary vest. She had everything. What was this feeling about?

      Cody! Cody was missing. Abby slammed on her brakes. Cody always met her in the lane when she got home from school. Every day, without fail. No matter what time, however late or early, he always seemed to know when she was coming. Today, he had not been there to meet her.

      Abby’s stomach twisted with anxiety. Was he in trouble? How could she be so selfish, so preoccupied with her own dreams of stardom on Dancer that she could forget her most loyal friend?

      She was almost at Hogscroft. Abby knew she couldn’t ride until she found Cody. She sped the bike down the gravel road and tore up the lane to the barn.

      Dancer was brushed and shiny, all tacked up in the aisle.

      “Abby!” exclaimed Hilary. “What’s the rush? You’re early! I was about to take Dancer for a ride . . .”

      “Hilary. Cody’s missing. I have to find him. Can I ride later, if I find him before dark?”

      Hilary was puzzled. “Doesn’t he just turn up when he feels like it?”

      “Yes, but he always greets me after school. He just seems to know. And he wasn’t there.” Abby was flustered, knowing how unconvincing she must sound.

      Hilary realized that they wouldn’t get any work done with Abby so unsettled. “Take Dancer. You start looking up that way and work down through the trails toward Saddle Creek.” She gestured toward the woods to the northeast. “I’ll start down at your place and work north. I’ll tack up Henry, and we’ll keep to the road.” As she talked, she took Henry out of his stall and began to get him ready. “If you find Cody, come out to the road, but let’s check back here in one hour. I’ll bring Pepper. She’ll warn me if he’s around. She’s been frightened to death of coyotes since the time she was almost eaten.”

      Abby nodded, satisfied with Hilary’s plan. She buckled her chin strap and zipped up her vest. She led Dancer over to the mounting block and hopped lightly onto his back.

      “Abby!” Hilary called. “If either of us finds him, we’ll do a yip yip yippee at the top of our lungs and come back here. Okay?”

      “Okay. Thanks, Hilary.” Abby asked Dancer for a trot, and got a canter. He had sensed her impatience. He was like an enormous rocking horse with his powerful action, restrained but eager. He allowed Abby to keep him in check as they travelled north up the road.

      Abby turned east onto the trail that wound behind the Caseys’ farm. Cody might very well have gone on the paths that he and Abby and Moonie usually took. But if he was anywhere within miles of her, he’d have shown himself already. Abby’s mind was spinning. Something was very wrong.

      Cody lay still. They were getting closer. His shiny, terrified eyes darted around, as he desperately sought a solution, an escape. He mustn’t breathe. He shouldn’t move a muscle. He wanted the horrible thing off his leg. The thing that snapped its teeth and hurt badly. He’d dragged himself as far as he could until the horrible thing got caught on a rock. He could go no further. He worked his body into a small dip between two rocks and tried to disappear from sight. He needed to get away from this evil place. But he couldn’t move, and he shouldn’t move, or they would find him faster.

      Hilary leisurely rode Henry south toward Abby’s house. Cody might be sleeping under the porch in his little den, oblivious to all the fuss. It was worth a look. He simply might have come home after Abby had left to ride. Even Cody could misjudge arrivals and departures once in a while.

      Pepper was delighted to be out on this beautiful spring day. She sniffed everything in sight, and hopped and scooted from here to there. Her comical antics made Hilary laugh. They’d find Cody at home, reassure Abby, and get on with the lesson. An hour’s hack for Henry wasn’t a bad idea, anyway.

      Hilary thought of her new student with pride. Abby had good instincts on a horse. She’d turned out to be the perfect solution to Hilary’s problem with Dancer. If Abby could commit to ride him three times a week, Dancer would feel useful again and settle down.

      As they rode up the Malones’ lane, Hilary called, “Cody! Here boy!” Pepper was going berserk, sniffing and barking and circling around the porch.

      Fiona came out of the house, drying her hands on a dishcloth. She had a puzzled look on her face. “Hilary! Abby’s already gone over on her bike!”

      “I know, Mrs. Malone, I saw her at the barn. But Cody’s missing, so she’s out looking for him on Dancer, and I’m looking for him on Henry. He’s not here, is he?”

      “I wouldn’t know. He shows himself only when he wants to, so I can’t be sure.” As Fiona spoke, she walked over to the entrance to Cody’s lair under the porch. “Cody?” she called. “Cody!”

      There was no sign of the coyote.

      “Hilary, you’re very kind to help look for him, but in truth, he only comes to Abby. You might as well go back and wait. He certainly doesn’t come to me when I call.”

      Hilary nodded. “Pepper! Come!” The Jack Russell lifted her head, cocked an ear, then continued what she was doing, which was digging frantically under the porch.

      “Pepper doesn’t come to anyone when she’s called unless it suits her.” The two women smiled at each other. “If Cody shows up, would you mind calling my house?”

      “Not a bit. He could show up any minute.” Fiona waved goodbye as Hilary turned Henry and trotted down the lane. Pepper realized that they weren’t waiting, and furiously raced to catch up.

      They knew where he was. They were playing a game with him. It was only a matter of time before the leader would give the signal and it would be over. Cody was ready. He was already dying. Blood soaked the coarse grass beneath him, and insects from the earth were smelling food. His only regret was for his Abby: He could protect her no longer. His heart broke. His body slumped. His will to live drained.

      Dancer and Abby continued along the paths and trails. Abby called Cody’s name. There was never a responding yip. No magical appearance of her coyote friend. Abby worried that he might be dead, hit by a car, mangled by a wild coyote. On they trotted, slowing only to listen for Cody’s call.

      As they travelled along, Abby and Dancer were getting used to each other. They began to respond without thought or tension to each other’s signals. Before long, there was no misunderstanding between them; only an innate single will. Never did Abby bully or push him. Never did Dancer balk or resist. They were united in the mystical, timeless fashion of man and horse.

      At the boundary of Samuel Owens’ property, where it abutted Wick Farm, Dancer suddenly became uneasy. He pranced on the spot and shook his head. He refused to go further. “What’s wrong, Dancer?” cooed Abby as she stroked his tensed neck. “What is it?”

      Dancer only got more fretful. He backed up and scooted sideways, twisting his neck and trying to tell Abby